Keep Cali Grill or....

[dledger]

Hi All! We are about 75 days away from our disneymoon and I'm starting to second guess my ADR. We currently have:

Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package
Kona Dinner and Breakfast
California Grill
Garden Grill
BOG Lunch
Raglan Road
Via Napoli

Currently, I have Cali Grill booked for 7:40 on June 30 with Wishes at 10pm. It is also my birthday. I want a nice, special dinner and we have never eaten at CG or any signatures. We have the Dining plan (but I am thinking we may pay OOP) and are planning on spending the day at MK (we have BOG lunch booked at 12:45 - but wouldn't be against canceling/moving this) and are staying at POR. We aren't really super picky eaters but I'm worried after hearing about small portion sizes, my fiance has a big italian appetite. So, I'm wondering, should I keep Cali Grill? I thought about maybe going to Ohana as I've been there before but my fiance has not and also I know we would leave feeling satisfied. I've also heard good thing about Narcoosees?

Please tell me if I'm crazy to consider going elsewhere or if I should try and book something else!

**edited to add: we don't eat sushi**

 

[illinidp]

We enjoy CG a great deal, esp. for occasions such as this. The entrees are sized typically for signature dining in that they are sized as if you are going to order several courses. We get a couple of appetizers to share for 6-8 people, entrée, and desserts. We enjoy Narcoossee's for traditional seafood or surf and turf as well. 'Ohana is a great value for a "single counter", it's just a different experience than a signature. I would check out all three of the menus (and you could look at Citricos and Artist Point as well) and see which is the most appealing to the two of you.

 

[JZCubed]

Hi All! We are about 75 days away from our disneymoon and I'm starting to second guess my ADR. We currently have:

Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package
Kona Dinner and Breakfast
California Grill
Garden Grill
BOG Lunch
Raglan Road
Via Napoli

Currently, I have Cali Grill booked for 7:40 on June 30 with Wishes at 10pm. It is also my birthday. I want a nice, special dinner and we have never eaten at CG or any signatures. We have the Dining plan (but I am thinking we may pay OOP) and are planning on spending the day at MK (we have BOG lunch booked at 12:45 - but wouldn't be against canceling/moving this) and are staying at POR. We aren't really super picky eaters but I'm worried after hearing about small portion sizes, my fiance has a big italian appetite. So, I'm wondering, should I keep Cali Grill? I thought about maybe going to Ohana as I've been there before but my fiance has not and also I know we would leave feeling satisfied. I've also heard good thing about Narcoosees?

Please tell me if I'm crazy to consider going elsewhere or if I should try and book something else!

**edited to add: we don't eat sushi**

There are a bunch of 'questions' to be answered:

a.) Nice special dinner at Signature? CA Grill can be one of the most magical meals at Disney.

Both the food and ambiance offer the opportunity for greatness. On the other hand, some people can find the meal, like most every Disney place not named Victoria & Albert, hit-or-miss. By virtue of the fact that your ADR would include the notation of celebrating your honeymoon, you are more likely to get a 'better' table and experience.

b.) 7:40pm for 10pm fireworks is perfect. Maybe even arrive 15 minutes early. When you check-in, ask for a table towards the front (away from the kitchen) - towards the right when facing into the dining room from the upstairs podium. By the time you get that table (if you can get that table), you can slow walk the timing of your meal to end at about the time of the fireworks....or you can end your meal prior to the fireworks and just wait outside (the bar is open inside).

c.) O'Hana is not a 'special' place if Narcoossee's and CA Grill are your other options....especially if using the Dining Plan.

d.) I've never been able to get the math for Dining Plan to work for us, but both Narcoossee's & CA Grill are worthy 2-credit places. At Narcoossee's, this math works with steak & lobster; CA Grill math works with just about any 3-course selection. Most every entree at CA Grill is going to be as filling as, if not more so than, the lobster that makes the math at Narcoossee's work. If you're looking to enjoy a plate of pasta, then the math for food becomes poor value for 2-credits....but CA Grill can be value because of fireworks.

e.) Out-of-pocket preferences for my family are any of the Signatures at Swan & Dolphin (BlueZoo, Il Mulino, and Shula's) for food that is a cut above Disney food standards for the same price point.

f.) If your lunch is at BoG on the same day as a Signature, are you going to enjoy going from the Parks in the same clothes you've been wearing on a summer day?

g.) Getting from a resort-to-resort is not always the easiest thing to do at Disney. From CA Grill (Contemporary) you can walk to Magic Kingdom buses with a reasonably short walk. Taking Monorail from Polynesian (or even Grand Floridian) can take a bit more time.

h.) Raglan Road is more fun; Boathouse better food.

 

[jwakja]

IMHO, if I were you, I keep the Cali Grill if it was my honeymoon. Quiet, relaxed, great food, great service, beautiful view, etc. What more could you ask?

 

[goofy4prez]

IMHO, if I were you, I keep the Cali Grill if it was my honeymoon. Quiet, relaxed, great food, great service, beautiful view, etc. What more could you ask?

Some would say great food (I say good), some would say great service (I say fair), almost everyone would say beautiful view (myself included), But I have not heard many refer to this place as quite and relaxing; I have always found this place to be very loud and not the most relaxing. Is it a good restaurant? Sure it is; but quite and relaxing? Not at all.

To the op; I like CG, but Narcoossee's is my favorite restaurant in WDW. I enjoy the food, service and atmosphere (quieter than CG) of the restaurant along with it's own view of Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant. But with that said, I think you will be happy at both CG as with Narcoossee's if that is your choice.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't know that "quiet" can be promised at Cali Grill. There's inevitably one or two kids being kept up past their bedtime having meltdowns most nights.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

While I enjoy Cali Grill, it's more about the atmosphere. We've been a number of times, and while I've had some good food items and a few incredible ones, there have also been a few too many duds and average things for me to say it's got consistently great signature food. I still prefer it over Narcoosee's and definitely over 'Ohana. I wouldn't say that the portions are tiny either, but we also usually have at least three courses + drinks when we dine there. Most signatures are also not a great use of credits on the regular DDP, so often a good plan to pay OOP.

 

[phyllis1966]

My DH has a big Italian appetite, too, and he loved CG when we went for the first time last year. Definitely not quiet, though. For a special, quieter meal, we enjoy Narcoossee's or Citricos, both at the GF. We ate at Citricos for our 20th anniversary. I noted the occasion on our ADR, and they had special menus printed up and waiting at our table for the occasion - so nice!

I think you will enjoy any of the three, though.

 

[Travis B]

I'd keep Cali Grill, and try to turn your Kona dinner into an Ohana dinner. You just can't beat the view there. Our meal at Cali Grill was really delicious and I found it very quiet - no screaming kids as others have reported. You could always use 2 credits and pay OOP for appetizers to make it a little more filling.

 

[Pepper pots]

Will be booking CG tomorrow ( 180 day ) One of my five signature restaurants on my list..Check trip advisor...Its still got great reviews and is around number 52 which is high on the list...

 

[nikkid1]

You have picked great places! WE LOVE CALI GRILLE! There is no view like it anywhere on property. If you have drinks/appetizers, tell your server it is your honeymoon, you will have no problem extending it right into WISHES time. If you eat really fast, you can regain entrance to the rooftop with proof of eating there that day, but between all the other parks fireworks and the fact that they will space your food so you can go out and view them all, it is a dinner experience. Each course is amazing and we have never had anything we don't just LOVE there. I would absolutely keep it. It is not quiet, but it is not uncomfortably loud or abnormal for any other restaurant sounds.

We used to always do Narcoossee's and the last two times it was just ok... not on our must do list anymore. I thought we would never get my parents off of it, but they too say hands down Cali Grille.

Also, keep watching and try to get BOG for dinner. The food is great, and it probably could be a signature. The atmosphere is amazing and I think some of that is lost in the frenzy of lunch.

Enjoy & Congrats! We honeymooned there almost 13 years ago ... it is the best!

 

[Nancyg56]

IMHO, if I were you, I keep the Cali Grill if it was my honeymoon. Quiet, relaxed, great food, great service, beautiful view, etc. What more could you ask?

I like CG and have enjoyed dinner there several times. Not one was it quiet or relaxing. LOL!

Some would say great food (I say good), some would say great service (I say fair), almost everyone would say beautiful view (myself included), But I have not heard many refer to this place as quite and relaxing; I have always found this place to be very loud and not the most relaxing. Is it a good restaurant? Sure it is; but quite and relaxing? Not at all.

To the op; I like CG, but Narcoossee's is my favorite restaurant in WDW. I enjoy the food, service and atmosphere (quieter than CG) of the restaurant along with it's own view of Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant. But with that said, I think you will be happy at both CG as with Narcoossee's if that is your choice.

I said the same thing. If quiet and relaxing are the motivations for this particular meal, I would suggest Narcoossee's as well. As with any Disney restaurant you may find yourself in the midst of tired hungry kids, but honestly, the odds are much greater if you keep CG.

 

[need2travel]

I would also have to say Narcoosee's, the food & service are generally better & it is quite a bit quieter than Cali Grill. The view out over the water is also very pretty w/ a view of the castle, monorail, etc. They also offer a good view of Wishes from their deck & the boat dock. We like to go early & have a drink at Mizner's then walk down to Narcoosee's, it makes for a relaxing evening.

 

[belle7708]

Here's a vote for Narcoossee's or Artist Point - excellent food at both and very romantic!

 

[dledger]

Thank you so much for your feedback everyone!

I am going to have my fiancé compare the menus of CG and Narcoosee's to see which he would prefer. They both look magical to me and we haven't been to either!